St. Paul's Huggins Named Richland County Director

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 4/9/2009

• South Carolina native returns home 
• Richland County system is thriving
• Huggins cited for programs, leadership 

St. Paul Public Library (MN) director Melanie Huggins, one of two finalists to head the Richland County Public Library (RCPL), Columbia, SC, has been named executive director, replacing veteran David Warren. Warren led the 11-location RCPL to LJ's Library of the Year honors in 2001.

While St. Paul has 13 locations, it has a budget of $20 million, some $7 million less than that of RCPL, the Star-Tribune noted.

Huggins led St. Paul for three years, after nearly a decade at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC. A Columbia native, Huggins has a history at RCPL. Before she earned her MLS from the University of South Carolina, she worked as a library assistant in the Children’s Room of the Main Library. While at USC, she worked as a graduate and library assistant at RCPL.

Huggins's record
Among her accomplishments in St. Paul, Huggins implemented Saint Paulitics, an effort to educate and engage citizens in the democratic process as the city prepared to host the Republican National Convention last year..

RCPL noted that Huggins increased attendance at programs and events by more than 70 percent in three years, expanded the library’s open hours to the highest in its history, and created the library’s first Leadership Academy to develop leadership skills throughout the organization

“With David Warren’s departure, we had big shoes to fill,” said Rox Pollard, chair of the RCPL Board of Trustees. “Mr. Warren transformed an underfunded library system into a National Library of the Year. We need someone with the vision, energy and ability to continue that momentum and ensure that the services and programs our community receives remain world class. Melanie Huggins has proven she can do just that.”

Huggins will begin her new position in July. Helen Ann Rawlinson, RCPL’s deputy director for youth and support services, is acting director.